Offering sacrifices to God isn’t going to earn you His blessings!
Yet, many of us have at one time or other been guilty of this. Archbishop William Goh explains why and what you should be doing.
Many of us have the wrong notion of offering sacrifices to God. This pagan understanding still prevails in our relationship with God. We think that God can be appeased with lambs and animals, etc. This false notion also creeps into our understanding of mortification and penance. We do penance to earn God’s blessings when they are meant to dispose us to receiving His blessings. The mortifications we do are not the cause of God’s blessings and do not please God, but it is for our sake, so that we can be receptive to the blessings He wants to bestow upon us.
The prophet makes it clear that He is not pleased with such external sacrifices. In fact, He is disgusted with them because they were offered by people whose hearts were far from Him. “What are your endless sacrifices to me? says the Lord. “Bring me your worthless offerings no more, the smoke of them fills me with disgust.”
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Marriage: The views from various religions
IJ Sr Maria Lau (far left) moderating the panel discussion with the speakers. From left: Ms Michelle Voo, Rabbi Mordechai Abergel and Ustaz Zulhilmi Mohamed.
Jared Ng
Three religious representatives recently spoke on the topic of marriage in their respective religions of Judaism, Islam and Catholicism.
Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, Ustaz Zulhilmi Mohamed and Ms Michelle Voo, a member of the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD), shared insights on various aspects of marriage such as its purpose, customs and traditions.
The July 17 interreligious panel and discussion on marriage, held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, was organised by ACCIRD.
Rabbi Mordechai Abergel, Ustaz Zulhilmi Mohamed and Ms Michelle Voo, a member of the Archdiocesan Catholic Council for Interreligious Dialogue (ACCIRD), shared insights on various aspects of marriage such as its purpose, customs and traditions.
The July 17 interreligious panel and discussion on marriage, held at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, was organised by ACCIRD.
Human development through the lens of faith
Mr Tan Cheng Han (far left), the conference moderator, with panellists at the Social Mission Conference: (from left) Ms Teo Jin Lee, Mr Han Fook Kwang, Dominican Friar David Garcia and Mr John Lim.
Jared Ng
Understanding the needs and circumstances of youth at-risk, assisting the poor in their holistic development and learning about the Church’s teaching on integral human development.
These were some of the issues discussed at the recent Social Mission Conference organised by Caritas Singapore.
The biennial event, which began in 2008, aimed to look at the Church’s social teaching of integral human development – where the whole person is developed and all persons are included in the development of society.
These were some of the issues discussed at the recent Social Mission Conference organised by Caritas Singapore.
The biennial event, which began in 2008, aimed to look at the Church’s social teaching of integral human development – where the whole person is developed and all persons are included in the development of society.
Catholics discuss the issues on contraception and marriage
Speakers at the Humanae Vitae conference (from left): Mr Daryl Gomes, Mr Andrew Kong, Fr David Garcia,
Mr Nick Chui and Dr John Hui.
Christopher Khoo
For married couple Eugene and Trillion Ng, practising Natural Family Planning (NFP) has made their relationship so much stronger.
Using the Church-approved method of family planning, in which they avoid sex during Trillion’s fertile period, has helped them to focus on other activities that they do together as a couple. This has strengthened their bond.
Sex also became more meaningful for them, said the couple during the HV50 conference held at St Joseph’s Institution on July 14.
For married couple Eugene and Trillion Ng, practising Natural Family Planning (NFP) has made their relationship so much stronger.
Using the Church-approved method of family planning, in which they avoid sex during Trillion’s fertile period, has helped them to focus on other activities that they do together as a couple. This has strengthened their bond.
Sex also became more meaningful for them, said the couple during the HV50 conference held at St Joseph’s Institution on July 14.